Posted 8 years ago
PostCardCo…
(437 items)
The photo is a real photo ( sepia), but I guess my lighting is off.
Size 5 1/2 X 4. cardboard mounted. Plain back.
I BOUGHT IT ON EBAY, and it came yesterday Reasonable price!
There is a poster on the window that might help identify the the year and location of this storefront photo. Maybe someone has ability to do that? I would guess the time is around 1900--give or tale some time--the men's hats are real old. The fire plug is vintage. Three men wear vests with watch chains.
The Proprietor of the store, is C.J WAKEFIELD, and the "CITY DRUG STORE" looks like quite a large place--so probably a big city...
It would be fun to know where?
Do you think the druggist himself wore the big, long apron? I know they prepared medicines by mixing them up way back when, he looks more like a butcher!
ENLARGE TO SEE---There are two hidden characters standing casually in the darkened door area behind, and left of the man on far left front. One of those men wears an old cowboy hat &looks like he wears Levis, with very worn knees and has jammed his hands in his pockets,and taken a wide stance. Do I see a GUN,right leg??(Security, Sheriff?) I guess that is all the photo clues I can pick up.
Mystery To Solve.
This is like a postcard that has scalloped edges on cardboard right ?
No the edges are sharp and square and it is larger than a postcard.
Here is one like your's with scalloped edges they say it was mounted so I thought yours might be also . Cool Photo and must have been mass produced ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Photo-Mounted-on-Scalloped-Card-034-City-Drug-Store-C-J-Wakefield-Prop-034-/272531470544?hash=item3f742438d0&nma=true&si=tj60jE8MBvn3jvIKxMpRGC%252FmOPo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I've seen fire hydrants like that with patents from the 1890s to 1940s in my city. Hydrant may not be of much help.
Manikin===That IS mine at the site you sent (SOLD to Me.)--in the description I mentioned that I BOUGHT it on eBay---But it is not a postcard , it is a REAL PHHOTO that someone glued on a backing of cardboard. Why and when, I do not know. I received it a few days ago, and then put it on. It is a real vintage photo, , not a mailing card. Cheers! Lois
oh lol that is funny . When you said it didn't have scalloped edges I thought there were others too :-) It is a great photo and thanks for clarifying that too .
I was curious if there was any info on the drugstore and did a search about it and up popped that photo. So I was not questioning your photo but found it interesting and was hoping to date it :-)
Yes, that photo will stay on eBay for maybe years. But it does say "sold" over there. I too tried in the drug store info--and there is my photo.
I can slip a tip of a fingernail under it, but I feel it may rip and I wish they had not mounted it (done maybe recently--maybe the vintage photo was starting to curl? As you see , it is really sepia, in the eBay photo but they won't let me use that photo EVEN if it belongs to me now!! I took at least 6 pictures, but all came out a lighter black and white--so I darkened it a bit so we can all read the sign and hopefully what is on the poster --but even in enlargement--I cannot make it out. Someone here may be able to with specific magnifying ability can, I don't have that It has a Victorian-type girl on it, and I get the feeling it is for a "show"--or maybe an ad for Mineralava Clay Beauty Mask hanging in the window.!! I am very interested in the guy inthe shadows in the doorway with the cowboy hat, levis, and looks like a GUN STRAPPED ON!!. That needs enlarging too. Thanks for the comments Manikin!!!
I was looking at the guy in doorway too :-) I am wondering if the girl advertising cigars ? The picture made me think of the Wakefields and McCoys and that thought increased my interest :-)
I get soooo "wound up" in photos of the past with stores, people, obscurities, and oddities etc etc.Its a real "habit" like a drug!! I do collect them whenever I can if they are not too high priced. I swear, Manikin--I am almost obsessed with old photos above every other of my collectibles. I look at my albums all the time. If I am depressed, don't feel good, tired or whatever---they just pick we up, and make me sooo happy, it is amazing. I've got "it" bad for vintage photography. I was thinking just yesterday "If there was a fire in my home what would i take if just one category allowed. My photos was the answer. So now I am thinking to put them in fire-proof cases that I can drag out the door. Can you see me trying to rent those security boxes in the locked rooms of banks-?--Vaults!!?? That sounds wonderful to me. BUT Totally bizarre --- That is how crazy I am getting and how much I value the history and the sentiment contained in them!! eGads! What is happening to me?
I would keep them in a fire proof case or 5 or 6 cases :-) I love old photo's also I have so many of old family photo's I could never organize them all but I remember what I have just not which box :-)
Maybe you could try to contact the firehydrant.org and send them a good scan of your picture. http://www.firehydrant.org/
My daughter Linda, has scanned a ton of our own family photos, so we have taken care of that....but my desire is to keep all my original photos (the vintage collectibles) safe from fire ( flood, etc). Fireproof boxes?Sounds like a plan. I will look into it. I thought of storage sheds , there are two within walking distance. I am afraid they are cost prohibitive for me.
I suppose this worry of mine is a common one among collectors...How many of us are insured for instance. I'm not.
mcheconi--great idea about getting this photo to firehydrant.org! I am sure they can date the hydrant, at least by era for me. I have never heard of that link. They would probably like to see this photo!! THANKS!!
You're welcome my friend.